Onondaga County has one new confirmed case of COVID-19 since Wednesday, for a total of seven. It’s a male in his 30’s and the investigation is ongoing. As Central New Yorkers get tested, that means more results, positive or negative. That also translates to additional mandatory quarantines.
In his update Thursday, County Executive Ryan McMahon said that means the 21 people currently under quarantine should not leave their home or apartment.
"We're going to be here to help you. But there is a real expectation that you're going to live up to your obligation to this community. You're under a mandatory quarantine for a reason because you could be sick."
On that note, he says it’s important to reduce the stigma of a positive result. McMahon says it’s no one’s fault, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Meanwhile, he continued to drive home the message of social distancing to prevent virus transmission, including among children.
"We really need parents to step up here. I know you have kids at home, they're going crazy already...I get it...I have three of my own. But we can't have all these playdates, and we can'thave 15-20 kids playing basktball games. We have to break this up. We have to starve this virus. We need your leadership in this."
Officials have said playing at a park or playground is OK as long as kids practice social distancing.
McMahon says he knows people are scared and that the virus has turned our lives upside down. But he also said it's important to watch our mental health and maintain a sense of humor. That's how he approached a profane email from a resident named Cameron at 2:24 a.m.
"I thought this was really nice. Cameron, I know you're out there. This is his input: 'Your decisions to shut everything down suck. You should be fired, stupid ass,'" read the email. "So Cameron, thanks for making me smile. I think a little humor right now goes a long way for our community's mental health."
McMahon continued to remind residents cooped up at home to order take-out or use one of the delivery services to keep restaurants and their supply chains busy. He also urged people to buy only what they need so shelves have stock for others.
RELIEF FOR SYRACUSE SMALL BUSINESSES
Small businesses in Syracuse impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can seek help from an emergency relief program. The Syracuse Economic Development Corporation, or SEDCO, has dedicated a half million dollar fund to provide zero percent interest, 180-day loans. The program will offer loans of up to $25,000, but the average loan is anticipated to be around $10,000.
“The hardships being experienced by small businesses and their employees are crippling. They will have both short and long-term impacts, and we need to act now to help,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh in a release. “SEDCO is a valuable, flexible, and fast-moving tool we can deploy to help small businesses, the backbone of our economy, make it through this difficult time.”
Many small businesses ar experiencing sudden and extreme negative consequences due to the reduction in public access, foot traffic, and limits on public gaterhings. The loans can be used to cover ongoing expenses, prevent staff lay-offs, offset losses, and help companies sponsor sick pay for workers as needed.
In addition to locally available financing from SEDCO, the City of Syracuse is actively tracking other resources offered to small businesses, including:
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loanprogram offering up to $2 million to individual businesses. The City is working with partners to enable eligibility access for Onondaga County businesses;
• $100 million in cash grants and ad credits from Facebook for up to 30,000 businesses;
• and the application for New York State debt suspension through the Office of the Attorney General.
For those who are unable to access or utilize these resources, the City of Syracuse and SEDCO are providing the Emergency Relief Program as a viable alternative.
Applications will be available starting Monday at syrgov.net/sedco. They can be emailed to business@syrgov.net or mailed to SEDCO, 201 E. Washington St; Syracuse, NY 13202
SUPPLY SHORTAGES
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Upstate New York, Congressmembers John Katko and Anthony Brindisi today urged the department of health and human services to prioritize sending supplies to the region. They’ve heard repeated concerns from hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers, and others about shortages of personal protective equipment and ventilators. They sent a letter to Secretary Alex Azar highlighting the dire need, and urged the agency to provide the region with a proportionate share of the five million respirator masks and 2,000 ventilators recently made available by the US Department of Defense.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY/SUNY ESF COMMENCEMENT?
Syracuse University officials say they’re in the process of assessing whether or not its safe to host commencement activities as planned in mid-May given the threat posed by COVID-19. In a message to the University Community, Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie acknowledges the uncertainty is frustrating for students and their families. He says they’re seeking guidance from the CDC and local health officials, and plan to make a decision soon.
